THE HEART OF "LES MAROLLES"

BRUSSEL'S FLEA MARKET

YOU JUST ARRIVED IN BRUSSELS AND WANT TO GRASP THE
ATMOSPHERE OF THE CITY?

THE GOOD PLACE TO START IS THE FLEA MARKET AT "LA PLACE
DU JEUX DE BALLE", KNOWN AS THE "OLD MARKET" SQUARE.
IN THE HEART OF "LES MAROLLES" A LOVELY QUARTER OF THE
TOWN CENTER, THERE IS A LOVELY CHAOTIC MARKET THAT
TAKES PLACE EARLY EVERY MORNING TILL AROUND 2PM.
WHAT A LOAD OF JUNK YOU WILL MAYBE THINK AT FIRST! BUT
TO WANDER AROUND IS TRULY WORTH THE EFFORT!!

MOST OF THE ITEMS, RANGING FROM CLOTHES, CHINA, BOOKS
RECORDS, SUNGLASSES, SILK SCARVES, VINTAGE CLOTHES,
DISHES TO JEWELLERY ARE LAYED OUT ON BLANKETS ON
THE GROUND AND DESPITE THE GENERAL APEARANCE THERE
ARE GEMS TO BE FOUND... FOR JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN
$10 I BOUGHT A REAL PAIR OF OLD WAYFARERS, A BRILLIANT
DEAL SPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE CONSTANTLY LOOSING YOUR
SUNGLASSES OR SITTING ON THEM AND BREAKING THEM...
LATELY I’VE MANAGED TO LOSE 2 IN A WEEK… NO COMMENT!

I ALSO PICKED UP A WICKED VINTAGE WOOLY CARDIGAN AND
GREAT LP'S THAT I AM ALREADY PLAYING; THE WHOLE DEAL
WAS A BARGAIN, LOVELY WAY TO SPEND PEANUTS A GET

GREAT DEALS!

WHAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW IS THAT ALL ITEMS ARE CHEAPER
FROM MONDAY TO THURSDAY; FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAY THE
REAL ANTIQUE DEALERS COME FOR THE WEEKEND SO THE
PRICES RISE. THEY COME WITH PROPER STANDS AND IT IS NOT
UNUSUAL TO SPOT AN ITEM SOLD FOR A COUPLE OF EUROS
ON A BLANKET DURING THE WEEK AND TO SEE IT AGAIN ON A
TABLE FOR TEN TIMES IT'S PRICE!

GUESS YOU WILL QUICKLY MAKE UP YOUR MIND WHEN TO
GO...

AFTER YOUR STROLL YOU WOULD MAYBE LIKE TO HAVE A
BELGIAN BEER AND A BOWL OF SOUP AT ONE OF THE LOCAL
CAFES AROUND THE SQUARE. THE MOST AUTHENTIC IS
MAYBE "LA CLEF D'OR" MEANING THE GOLDEN KEY. THEIR
SOUPS ARE DEAD CHEAP AND SEEM YUMMI! BUT WATCH IT IF
YOU ARE A VEGETARIAN! THEY ARE OFTEN MADE WITH MEAT
STOCK.... BUT I REASSURE YOU, MANY OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE
JUST AROUND THE CORNER.